Nepal's deposed king leaves palace for last time

Nepal's former king Gyanendra left his palace in Kathmandu late on Wednesday for the last time to live as a commoner in a former hunting lodge on the outskirts of the capital.

Gyanendra and his wife Komal Shah left in the back of a black Mercedes as hundreds of riot police surrounded the main gate of the sprawling Narayanhiti palace complex in the heart of the ancient temple-studded city.

Shouts of "long live the republic" rang out from a crowd of about 500 people who watched Gyanendra's departure while a few pro-royalists cried.

"Former king Gyanendra Shah and his wife Komal Shah have left the palace," police officer Bharat Lama told AFP.